Wednesday, May 1, 2013
An attorney representing an Orland Park man charged with causing a deadly drunken New Year's crash in 2010 will review an accident reconstruction report after he returns to the United States.
An expert witness' reconstruction report on the New Year's 2010 crash that claimed the life of a 20-year-old New Lenox woman must be reviewed by a lawyer before a judge will decide whether to allow it at trial. But that lawyer, Joseph Casciato, is out of the country, his co-counsel, Jeffrey Aprati, said during a Wednesday morning hearing at the Markham courthouse. Cook County Judge Frank Zelezinski noted he has a busy schedule of upcoming trials and pushed the aggravated driving under the influence case against 25-year-old Nicholas Sord back to July 9. Sord, a resident of Orland Park, is free on bond. "Even though the case is getting very old, I do know there are jury trials set," Zelezinski said. Sord's blood-alcohol content was allegedly…
Friday, February 1, 2013
A Cook County judge agreed with the defense during a hearing Friday that the reckless homicide case against Nicholas Sord, 25, is getting "very, very old" as another status date passed with no progress and he wants to move toward a resolution.
All eyes are now on the prosecution to move forward in the case against an Orland Park man charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI in connection to a fatal crash near Oak Forest that killed a 20-year-old New Lenox woman in 2010. Nicholas Sord, 25, has been charged with reckless homicide in the incident that led to Jessica Mejia's death, and is out on bond. He was offered a plea deal, which was subsequently turned down. Police said Sord was close to three times over the legal blood-alcohol limit on New Year's Eve 2009 when he lost control of his SUV near 147th Street and Oak Park Avenue. The defense has said Mejia caused the accident. For the past two court hearings, prosecutor Nicholas D'Angelo has been set to submit motions in…
Saturday, January 12, 2013
It's been three years since an Orland Park man was charged with reckless homicide in a DUI accident that killed Jessica Mejia, a 20-year-old New Lenox woman.
Another New Year's Day has come and gone, marking three years since the death of 20-year-old Jessica Mejia in a DUI-related car accident. Nicholas Sord, 25, has been charged with reckless homicide in the incident and is out on bond. He was offered a plea deal, which was subsequently turned down. A hearing on Jan. 11 was supposed to include arguments on motions about evidence in the case, but a new date in February was chosen instead. Sord didn't speak during the brief hearing. His attorney Jeff Aprati said the prosecution will be filing the motions but wasn't able to elaborate on what they may include. Police said Sord was close to three times over the blood-alcohol limit on New Year’s Day 2010 when he lost control of his SUV near 147th …
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Also, five Indiana men charged in a racially-charged attack at Ashford House restaurant are considering a plea agreement.
Nicholas Sord, 24, opted this week to reject a plea agreement offered in August, the details of which have not been made public, in the reckless homicide case against him for a DUI-related crash that killed a 20-year-old New Lenox woman. Police say Jessica Mejia died on New Year's Eve in 2009 after Sord lost control of the SUV they were riding in. Authorities also said Sord's blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit. Sord's defense is that Mejia caused the accident, according to his attorney, and counsel from both sides will argue motions in January about whether other details besides Sord's drinking are revelant to the case. Patch rounds up the Southland's major criminal and civil cases being heard in Cook County and …
Thursday, October 25, 2012
A defense attorney for Nicholas Sord, an Orland Park man charged with reckless homicide in a DUI accident that killed a New Lenox woman, said he will continue with his defense for now.
Christina Mejia had hoped a court hearing Thursday would signal the end of a case that has gone on for more than two years, where an Orland Park man is accused of reckless homicide in the DUI-related crash that killed her daughter. But that wasn't to be. Instead, Nicholas Sord, 24, has opted not take a plea agreement offered in August -- the details of which have not been made public -- at least for now. Sord is currently out on bond and appeared in Judge Frank Zelezinski's Markham courtoom Thursday wearing a dark blue suit. "He didn't take the deal," said Christina Mejia after the hearing. Other family members and friends couldn't hide their disappointment as they hugged each other. Police say Sord was close to three times over the blood…
Friday, August 17, 2012
Nicholas Sord, 24, of Orland Park, is charged with reckless homicide in a DUI accident that killed a New Lenox woman. Lawyers went into a conference with prosecutors and a Cook County judge Thursday.
A plea agreement could be in the works for Orland Park resident Nicholas Sord, who was charged with reckless homicide in a DUI accident on New Year's Eve more than two years ago. Sord, 24, was close to three times over the blood-alcohol limit on New Year’s Day 2010 when he lost control of his SUV near 147th Street and Oak Park Avenue, killing 20-year-old Jessica Mejia of New Lenox, according to police. At a hearing Thursday, Aug. 16, attorneys for Sord asked Judge Frank Zelezinski for a "402 conference," which is listed by the Cook County Guide to the Criminal Justice System as a plea bargaining tool. In such conferences, the judge hears information about the case that he may not normally hear at trial, including information about the …
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
As a condition of bond, Nicholas Sord, of Orland Park, was required to take random drug tests. Prosecutors aim to remove his bond, which would keep Sord in jail while awaiting trial.
An Orland Park man accused in a fatal drunken driving crash may await trial in Cook County jail for testing positive for opiates and violating the conditions of his release, Sun-Times Media reported. According to the Sun-Times, Cook County prosecutors will be looking to remove Nicholas Sord's $200,000 bond, which required that he take random drug tests. Sord was nearly three times over the blood-alcohol limit on New Year’s Day 2010 when he lost control of his SUV near 147th Street and Oak Park Avenue, killing his 20-year-old girlfriend, Jessica Mejia, of New Lenox. Sord’s attorney, Jeff Aprati, said after court Wednesday that Sord broke his wrist five or six weeks ago and was taking the narcotic painkiller Vicodin, though he didn’t know …
OrlandParker
5:00 am on Sunday, May 5, 2013
Both sides have had delays ... Judge is allowed vaca just like any other employee ... Don't blame the judge because the defense and prosecution... Justice will be served more ›